Israel Hits Iran with Airstrikes

Early Saturday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Iran, claiming to target military sites in response to ballistic missiles Iran had previously fired at Israel. Explosions echoed across Tehran, though Iran downplayed the impact, stating the strikes caused only "limited damage."

This escalation risks bringing the two rivals closer to full-scale conflict amidst growing regional violence, as Iran-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah are already engaged in battles with Israel. The attack marked Israel's first public military action against Iran, a country that hasn’t experienced such direct foreign strikes since its war with Iraq in the 1980s.

Israel’s assault lasted several hours, ending just before dawn in Tehran. The Israeli military reported it hit sites associated with missile production used in past attacks on Israel, along with surface-to-air missile locations and other aerial capabilities. Israel withheld any damage report initially.

While nuclear and oil facilities were considered potential targets, the Biden administration reportedly secured assurances from Israel to avoid these high-risk sites to prevent further escalation.

“The regime in Iran and its regional proxies have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 … including direct assaults from Iranian territory,” Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated in a recorded message. “Like every sovereign nation, Israel has the right and duty to defend itself.”

The U.S. cautioned against further retaliation, suggesting that these strikes should conclude the hostilities between Israel and Iran. Iranian officials claimed the attacks hit military bases in the Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran provinces, causing “limited damage” without providing additional details.